Notting Hill Carnival 2009

Since 1966, every August Bank holiday, west London streets turn from your average posh neighbourhood into an overwhelming colorful sea of dancing, laughing, shouting, pulling and celebrating people. With a 20 mile route, 40 earrupturing soundsystems, hundreds of carribean food stalls, 40,000 volunteers and over 1 million visitors this is the largest street festival you'll come across in Europe. Last year I arrived in London 1 day too late so I had my Notting Hill Carnival cherry popped today. Normally, just the word carnival alone makes me puke but this was beautiful, I don't know how else to describe it. The energy was extroardinary. There were masses of healthy looking people, having a dance, a laugh, a smoke. It's amazing to see so many people simultaniously letting go, no shame, no fear. And the weather was fabulous! And the food, ahhh.... I'm knackered, I lost my voice, my feet and leg joints are busted, I ate/drank more than I probably should (*EDIT* I also broke a tooth and when the bus broke down in the middle of the road on my way back home, I accidentally stabbed a guy in the head with one of my nails :s) but it was very much worth it, can't wait untill next year and you should come too! x

First LDN anniversary.

This weekend I celebrate my first year of living in London (and successfully making the deadline of the JCE magazine plus an unexpected tax return)! Education, independance, jobs that don't involve endless hours of nothingness and naive prospects, new insights, lots of laughter, input rewarded and no more being taken for granted. For all this I also have my friends and family to thank for, here and abroad, so thanks for your support and advice :) It's been an intense but blessed year and how else to mark the occasion than in London style. So yesterday, in spirit of reviving the passions and loving and doing as I please to the max I put on a 2004 drum&slag outfit for old time's sake and went to the Playaz Carnival Special with mutual eager mate. Amongst others Ed Rush, DJ Hype, Andy C, Grooverider, Fabio, Marcus Intalex, D-Bridge, Spectresoul, Stamina MC, Noisia, Fierce, Calyx and Prolyx were there to grace us with their presence. In spite of being too drunk, being groped by overconfident strangers too many times and getting too lost on several occasions I tried to capture the night as best as I could. It's possibly the most random and insignificant series I ever did haha. The night ended somewhere in the morning in the park by the Thames where we were joined by our new saviour with whom we had the most verifying conversation on fruit and safety in London. Good times. Next up is 2 days of Notting Hill Carnival with hopefully better photographs to follow. London I heart you. Yours truly x